The U.S. Senate has endorsed further NATO enlargement.
In a resolution approved Thursday, the senators called for timely admission of five new members - Albania, Croatia, Georgia, Macedonia and Ukraine - to the alliance.
The document recognizes the five countries as eligible to receive U.S. assistance to help them on their way to NATO membership.
It also urges NATO allies to work with the United States in promoting global security, including continued support for alliance enlargement.
The U.S. House of Representatives adopted a similar resolution earlier this month.
Some information for this report was provided by AP.